MANCHESTER Phoenix Managing Director Neil Morris has vowed that there are exciting times ahead after the club held a fan forum event in the city centre last week.

Morris, who has been at the helm of the club since 2003, was joined by a host of Phoenix stars and new club investors Red Hockey at the Mercure Hotel in Manchester to announce further plans for the 2015/16 season.

Proposals have been submitted for a temporary 3000 seat arena to be placed in an unconfirmed city centre site, with a further 12 month plan in place to build a permanent structure afterwards.

Morris however did confirm a contingency plan that if Phoenix begin the new ice hockey season away from Manchester at either the earmarked Deeside Ice Rink or IceSheffield, they will finish where they started and will not switch venues half way through the year.

However, the hope is firmly with Plan A and Morris can’t wait to give the fans what they deserve:

“I wouldn’t have stayed here all these years, and put so much effort in, if it wasn’t for the fans. It is so exciting when you think how the new arena will help to put this club on the map in Manchester.

"The people here are good, loyal and love the Phoenix. That is why we want to protect this club for them.’

Meanwhile Director of Red Hockey Paul Baker said: “Tonight just speaks volumes about the passion behind this club, that they voted with their feet. You can see that they are 100 per cent behind this club, they love it and are interested in it.’

‘It will be fantastic for this club to have a permanent arena to play out of in the near future. Nobody will be able to kick the Phoenix out, or tell them to leave. It will be their home.”